Dataset Information

The Role of Motivation as a Factor in Mental Fatigue.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to assess motivation as a factor in mental fatigue using subjective, performance, and physiological measures. BACKGROUND:Sustained performance on a mentally demanding task can decrease over time. This decrement has two possible causes: a decline in available resources, meaning that performance cannot be sustained, and decrement in motivation, meaning a decline in willingness to sustain performance. However, so far, few experimental paradigms have effectively and continuously manipulated motivation, which is essential to understand its effect on mental fatigue. METHOD:Twenty participants performed a working memory task with 14 blocks, which alternated between reward and nonreward for 2.5 hr. In the reward blocks, monetary rewards could be gained for good performance. Besides reaction time and accuracy, we used physiological measures (heart rate variability, pupil diameter, eyeblink, eye movements with a video distractor) and subjective measures of fatigue and mental effort. RESULTS:Participants reported becoming fatigued over time and invested more mental effort in the reward blocks. Even though they reported fatigue, their accuracy in the reward blocks remained constant but declined in the nonreward blocks. Furthermore, in the nonreward blocks, participants became more distractable, invested less cognitive effort, blinked more often, and made fewer saccades. These results showed an effect of motivation on mental fatigue. CONCLUSION:The evidence suggests that motivation is an important factor in explaining the effects of mental fatigue.

SUBMITTER: Herlambang MB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6764012 | biostudies-other | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The Role of Motivation as a Factor in Mental Fatigue.

Herlambang Mega B MB Taatgen Niels A NA Cnossen Fokie F

Human factors 20190228 7

<h4>Objective</h4>The aim of this study was to assess motivation as a factor in mental fatigue using subjective, performance, and physiological measures.<h4>Background</h4>Sustained performance on a mentally demanding task can decrease over time. This decrement has two possible causes: a decline in available resources, meaning that performance cannot be sustained, and decrement in motivation, meaning a decline in willingness to sustain performance. However, so far, few experimental paradigms hav ...[more]

PMID: 30817228

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND:In order to counteract fatigue, physical activity (PA) is recommended for all stages of cancer. However, only few advanced cancer patients (ACP) are physically active. Quantitative data with high numbers of ACP reporting barriers to PA are missing. This study aimed to identify barriers to PA in ACP with tiredness/weakness and investigate their motivation towards it. METHODS:Outpatients with metastatic cancer receiving cancer care at a German Cancer Center reporting moderate/severe tiredness/weakness during self-assessment (MIDOS II) were enrolled. We assessed Fatigue-(FACF-F) and Depression (PHQ8) Scores, demographics, cancer-specific parameters, motivation for PA, physical, psychological and social barriers. RESULTS:141 of 440 eligible patients (32.0%) with different diagnoses agreed to participate. Patients frequently reported "I feel weakened due to my tumor therapy" (n =?108; 76.6%), physical symptoms (tiredness, weakness, dyspnea, joint-problems, pain, nausea [n?= 107; 75.9%]) and fatigue (n =?99; 70.2%) as barriers to PA. However, no significant group differences regarding these barriers were found between physically active and inactive patients. Social barriers were rarely chosen. Motivated patients were 5.6 times more likely to be physically active (p?< 0.001), also motivation turned out to be the strongest predictor for a physically active behavior (??=?1.044; p =?0.005). Motivated attitude towards PA was predicted by fatigue (??=?-?2.301; p =?0.008), clinically relevant depression (??=?-?1.390, p?= 0.039), knowledge about PA and quality of life (QoL) (??=?0.929; p?= 0.002), PA before diagnosis (??=?0.688; p?= 0.005 and Interest in exercise program (??=?0.635; p?= 0.008). CONCLUSION:"I feel weakened due to my tumor therapy" is the most reported barrier to PA among both, physically and inactive patients. Motivation for PA is the strongest predictor of performing PA. Interest in PA, knowledge about PA/QoL and PA before diagnosis are main predictors of a motivated attitude. Absence/presence of social barriers did not associate with motivation, fatigue and depression proved to be a negative predictor. Programs including information, motivational counseling and individualized training should be offered for ACP to overcome barriers and reduce fatigue. TRIAL REGISTRATION:German Register of Clinical Trials DRKS00012514, registration date: 30.5.2017.

Dataset Information

The Role of Motivation as a Factor in Mental Fatigue.

Publications

The Role of Motivation as a Factor in Mental Fatigue.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets